Is Chicago Cubs Season Over As Memorial Day Benchmark Arrives?
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Memorial Day is the benchmark most MLB teams will use to assess their situation. That situation of course is whether or not they will be buyers or sellers at the trade deadline.
Coming into Memorial Day, things could not be more dire for the Chicago Cubs. They suffered a sweep at the hands of the Cincinnati Reds, their National League Central rivals, and sit at 22-30.
Chicago has lost four in a row and hold a 3-7 record over their last 10.
The skid doesn't appear to be ending soon.
Then you have to take in the harsh reality of this season and beyond.
Marcus Stroman trade rumors are already swirling. If made available, he would be one of the most coveted pitchers in what may be a very active market. Either way, he has an opt out at the end of the season that he will almost assuredly exercise.
Other members of their rotation, such as Kyle Hendricks and Drew Smyly, may not be on the North Side next season either as they have buyouts and opt outs as well.
As we have talked at length about here at Inside the Cubs, Cody Bellinger, the 2019 NL MVP, looks to be retaking form. But of course it's during a season that is looking more lost with each passing game.
Bellinger is also on a one-year deal, so the odds of him sticking around past the trade deadline, much less the end of the season are slim.
But all is not lost.
The Cubs have a talented roster and they are only 5.5 games out of the division race.
But the way this team is performing is creating a lot of backward momentum, it'll take a seismic shift for it to change. Simply getting reliever back from injury won't change the course of the season or the attitude in the clubhouse.
As it stands, with a dramatic change in play over the next month, Chicago very well may be open for business as another fire sale ensues on the North Side.
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